£350m Subsea HVDC Cable Plant Opens in Scotland's Highlands
A new subsea high-voltage direct current cable factory has opened at the Port of Nigg, marking the UK's first such facility and bringing over 200 skilled jobs to the Highlands.
Sumitogo Electric U.K. Power Cables inaugurated a state-of-the-art subsea HVDC cable manufacturing facility at the Port of Nigg in Easter Ross, the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. The £350 million investment, backed by £24.5 million of Scottish Government grant money, will produce cables that act as electricity superhighways, moving large volumes of offshore wind energy from Scotland to the rest of the UK with little loss.
The 58,000-square-metre plant is projected to generate over 200 skilled positions locally and stimulate more than 400 jobs across the broader UK supply chain through training programmes. Government leaders praised the project for unlocking offshore wind potential and strengthening energy security, while Sumitogo’s chairman Masayoshi Matusmoto linked the factory to the UK’s 2050 net-zero goal. The development also underscores the strategic value of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport as a hub for future energy infrastructure.
Why it matters
The plant boosts renewable energy transmission, creates jobs, and supports the UK's net-zero transition.
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